Female judge in 'chilli hot stuff' love triangle branded a racist and a liar

Roselane Driza was due to face a retrial after being jailed last year following the accusations connected with her relationship with Judge Mohammed Illyas Khan and his former lover.

The case against the flamboyant Miss Driza was thrown out as it emerged potentially embarrassing evidence was due to be heard about the female judge.

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Prosecutors said both the alleged victims were now too ill to give evidence as a string of witnesses prepared to cast doubt on the integrity of the female judge, who can't be named for legal reasons and was referred to as 'Judge J' in court.

Three Appeal Court judges who worked with her as well as her former husband were expected to claim she was xenophobic, had made a false claim that a colleague had assaulted her and had even lied during child custody hearings.

Miss Driza's conviction was overturned on appeal earlier this year.

The 37-year-old was due to face a new trial next month but yesterday she was in the Old Bailey to hear the Crown Prosecution Service drop the case.

At her original trial the court heard that immigration judge Mr Khan, 61, had sent her texts saying she was 'Chilli Hot Stuff' and he was her 'complere and totaly puppy'.

It also emerged that Judge Khan - and Judge J, with whom he had also been sleeping - had both been employing Miss Driza illegally.

It was revealed that during the Appeal Court hearing damning evidence emerged that Judge J - who like Judge Khan had sat on immigration and asylum tribunals - had been described as "xenophobic", "temperamental" and on one occasion even invented a false allegation of assault against a fellow judge.

The Appeal Court also heard statements from her former husband that Judge J had lied during child custody hearings after their divorce and he claimed she treated with "contempt" those she thought to be inferior.

Nine judges also made statements about her saying they had heard her using bad language and displaying "intemperate behaviour".

Miss Driza, of Finchley, North London, stood outside the Old Bailey shouting "Freedom!" before speaking of her delight that she will not face a retrial.

"I'm so happy," she said. "Justice has been done. I am very happy and very proud of God."

Wearing tight white leggings, a red patterned top, red peeptoe shoes and her trademark dark glasses, she blew kisses to photographers.

Explaining she was no longer a cleaner and had not been able to work for two years, she went on: "I have permission to stay in this country but no work visa while the Home Office considers my case.

"I was so stressed with the case. I will try to pass my last year of my philosophy degree."

The original Old Bailey trial heard how Judge Khan was still having an affair with Judge J when he started sleeping with Miss Driza.

It was alleged that when Miss Driza was sacked she threatened to report both judges to the Lord Chancellor if she did not receive "compensation".

She was initially sentenced to 33 months in prison in October 2006 for stealing videos from Judge Khan.

They were said to show him snorting cocaine and cavorting with a mystery blonde.

She was also found guilty of blackmailing the female judge for the sum of £20,000.

At her first trial Miss Driza was cleared of blackmailing Judge Khan, with whom she was living until her arrest.

After the pair became lovers, he sent her intimate text messages and emails, including one in which he told her she was "chilli hot stuff".

John Black QC, prosecuting, told Judge Martin Stephens that no evidence was now being offered against Miss Driza.

He said: "There have been a number of significant developments in this case. Both of the prosecution witnesses, J and Judge Khan, have both been ill.

"There is no foreseeable prospect of either of these witnesses being well enough to give evidence at a trial in August - or possibly ever."

He failed to give any further details of the ailments which have struck down both judges just two weeks before a proposed retrial.

The judge then entered formal not guilty verdicts and told Driza she could be discharged but he insisted the order banning the identification of Judge J should remain in place.

Earlier Miss Driza's counsel, Frances Oldham QC, had objected to Judge J remaining anonymous while her client had been "vilified by the Crown as a blackmailer".

Earlier this year it was revealed that Judge Khan was still being paid £8,240 a month despite being suspended since September.

Judge J has retired on health grounds.

The Office for Judicial Complaints, which has been investigating the behaviour of both judges, said the ruling would lead to a review of the case.

Neither judge was available for comment.